[Game Takes] Wild 2 Flames 1 (SO)

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Had some great seats to the game last night, went with an aussie who's never seen a hockey game before. Even though it was an uneventful game he had a great time. The dome had a pretty good atmosphere although not as loud as you'd expect. Just as ruthless as aussie football so he was right at home.

Most physical game I've seen the flames play this year, I like having Sarich in the lineup just to give us a couple big hits a game without being too defensively unreliable.

Street played well and you could tell was more confident, but I think with his skillset he should be a 3rd line center. Guy likes to shoot and is not bad at forechecking, but he doesn't seem to pass often so shouldn't be matched up with skilled shooters.

Can't wait for Cammy to come back, I think he will be matched on the top line where he can either have success with Iggy and Tangs or they can continue slumping and provide more depth on the other lines.

With Stajan moving around, typically playing on the 3rd line of late, it seems Backlund will have that number 2 center position waiting for him when he's back. That could be our most productive line with Hudler and Cervenka. With their skillset I'd say they would be the perfect makeup of a 2nd line. Cervenka is adjusting nicely to the NHL game and is just a fun guy to watch. Even without a nameplate or numbers on his jersey you can tell who he is when he's got the puck or forechecking.

They really need to waive Comeau, even when that guy gets a scoring chance it's always shot right at the goalie.. 0 hockey sense and not enough jump. I liked Jackman's game tonight, he was flying at the start of the game, just creating havoc wherever he went. Definitely keep him on the 4th line. Begin also filled his role on the PK and 4th line very well.

Pretty much all of our games have been winnable and we've been in the fight. The system seems to be working as far as puck control, we just need to make the most out of our chances. If Iggy can play like the team captain of the last 12 years, we are most definitely a playoff team. Even half the production we're used to from him and these tight losses will turn into wins.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

You have your mind made up about Iginla it seems. One bad game and it's "whatever was into him has faded"?

sigh

One bad game? hmph ok. I just remember less and less great games from him, more like whole bunch of average games.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Saqe

One bad game? hmph ok. I just remember less and less great games from him, more like whole bunch of average games.

He'll be 36 this summer, you're going to get more and more average games. Accept it.

Average game doesn't mean bad either btw, it means average.

[Badgers Nose]

It was a very entertaining game the Flames should have won 1-0 if not for Iggy's give away. It is sad that he could not make amends by scoring a couple of goals to get Leland a well earned win.

IMO Flames would have won if Iggy and Tanguay were benched or played 2-3 line minutes. Lot's of old man plays (soft, slow, mental lapses). Alex plays like someone 5 years older IMO.

I feel like this team kills coaches and young goalies.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

He'll be 36 this summer, you're going to get more and more average games. Accept it.

Average game doesn't mean bad either btw, it means average.

Yeah, you can't both say that he's not what he used to be and insist that he plays like he is what he used to be.

Iginla will wake up but unfortunately he's going through one of his spells where he forgets how to play hockey. That's been going on for years. It's not because he's 36. It's odd that people like Warrener are commenting that he's no longer a consistent leader on the ice - that's not news, he hasn't been that in many seasons. But that doesn't mean he can't be a great player either. He's RW sniper, period, and right now he's slumping.

[kermitology]

Didn't see much other than the shootout, and was shocked to see Blair Jones start for the Flames. Also.. as I said before, Tanguay needs to go back to his high glove wrister on the shootout.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Didn't see much other than the shootout, and was shocked to see Blair Jones start for the Flames. Also.. as I said before, Tanguay needs to go back to his high glove wrister on the shootout.

It's a mistake to put an unknown shooter first. Always put your best shooters first - it couldn't be any simpler. Tanguay is the best shooter and might not even got a shot because he was the third one.

[Change of Heart]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

It's a mistake to put an unknown shooter first. Always put your best shooters first - it couldn't be any simpler. Tanguay is the best shooter and might not even got a shot because he was the third one.

that does sound simple, maybe you should have a talk with Hartley

[Erick Estrada]

Also depressing was that the three shooters the Wild put out all had over 40% success in their career. The single reliable shooter the Flames trotted out (Tangs) is a career 38% shooter. Is it any wonder why this team has bee the worst shoot out team since it was added to the game?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

It's a mistake to put an unknown shooter first. Always put your best shooters first - it couldn't be any simpler. Tanguay is the best shooter and might not even got a shot because he was the third one.

you want your best shooter last because it's a pressure situation.

Although, maybe you don't want tanguay, as that guy is clearly content with phoning in high pressure situations.

[868904]

Yea it's gonna be awesome when management tells Feaster he can't trade Iggy cause we are 4 points out at the deadline and to work on a long term deal in the summer.

Then Iggy signs with a contender and we lose him for nothing.

Either way, at least the team and Iggy will be free of each other, it's what is needed for both parties. When Iggy gets to his new team, he'll find that jump and enthusiasm again. He's just tired of being "the guy", it's gotta be draining on him.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Change of Heart

that does sound simple, maybe you should have a talk with Hartley

I've seen great shooters not get a chance at all because the shootout was over in two rounds. You're supposed to put the pressure on the other team right away, not save your best player for the third round. Tanguay is the Flames' best shooter.

Parise is tied for 1st in all-time shootout goals (31) and Koivu is 6th (28, tied for 3rd in game-deciding goals). You put those two first and you can almost forget about the fact that you have a terrible shootout goalie in Bäckström.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

you want your best shooter last because it's a pressure situation.

Although, maybe you don't want tanguay, as that guy is clearly content with phoning in high pressure situations.

Best shooter first. Why not put pressure on them?

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

you want your best shooter last because it's a pressure situation.

Although, maybe you don't want tanguay, as that guy is clearly content with phoning in high pressure situations.

No. Like I said, you want to put the pressure on the other team first just like Minnesota did with their lineup. They didn't save Parise for last and consequently they didn't even need a third shooter. You don't want to wait for the pressure to be on you at all.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

No. Like I said, you want to put the pressure on the other team first just like Minnesota did with their lineup. They didn't save Parise for last and consequently they didn't even need a third shooter. You don't want to wait for the pressure to be on you at all.

yeah, that makes sense.

I've changed my mind. Hartley made a mistake.

[bubbsy]

pretty sure there are stats out there stating hte first team that scores in the shootout almost always wins.

We need our best guys first to put pressure on the other team to score.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

In order for the flames to win, their top players need to deliver (kipper, iginla, tanguay, bouwmeester, giordano).

This group, outside of bouwmeester for the most part, has been avg to below avg night in and night out, and hence few wins so far.

While I don't disagree, I think the top group should include Cammalleri and Wideman and I would add Hudler there too.

IMO these guys have mostly brought "it":
Wideman, Hudler, Tanguay (PPG is good especially considering his linemates), Bouwmeester (borderline though, I still want to see more excellent games from him).

Borderline: Giordano. IMO has not been as bad as some have said. Not at his best, but passable.

And these guys have not:
Iginla, Kipper, Cammalleri.

And the one closest to "delivering" is Cammalleri. Basicly, it might be that we have already entered the post-KipperIginla era.

I also think it's clear the window where those guys would have brought a significant return in trades is closed already. That's (again) a lot of trade value lost without playoff games in return.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

pretty sure there are stats out there stating hte first team that scores in the shootout almost always wins.

We need our best guys first to put pressure on the other team to score.

was just going to post this.

it used to be something like 75% - don't know what the updated stats look like, but getting that first goal and putting pressure on the other team is key

[moon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Iginla is just getting old and like most players when they get old, their intensity drops. He shouldn't be our best player anymore, and any disappointment should be aimed toward previous management that had no succession plan in place.

The current management hasn't done anything to put a succession plan in place either.

Originally Posted by 868904

Yea it's gonna be awesome when management tells Feaster he can't trade Iggy cause we are 4 points out at the deadline and to work on a long term deal in the summer.

Feaster is management and seems to be in 100% with the win now at all costs and Iginla stays a Flame no matter what.

[sun]

Boring game. Terrible shootout. Irving looked pretty good, but it's not like there were a lot of scoring chances. Iggy was really, really bad. Dude's gotta start scoring. Brodie continues to impress.

Hate the wild, hate the shootout.